Modern Tonic is a free daily email of eclectic pop-culture recommendations from a gay perspective. The editors of Modern Tonic present a weekly music update here on Towleroad.

NEW ARTISTS TO WATCH AND FREE DOWNLOADS:DIANE BIRCH: It's a proud, straight line from Carole King to Joni Mitchell to Fiona Apple to this Michigan-born singer-songwriter. In other words, she's the real deal, with her debut album, Bible Belt (out June 2), ready to prove it. An exclusive free download of the lead single, “Nothing But A Miracle,” is here.

TIGA: After winning a Juno (the Canadian Grammy) for his debut Sexor, the Montreal DJ/producer comes back hard for his second spin around the dance floor with Ciao! (out today). Download the Green Velvet remix of current single “Shoes” here.

MUSIC NEWS:

Never mind Madonna, the hippest 50-year-old around is…Island Records. Chris Blackwell’s indie-before-there-was-indie, founded in Jamaica, has given us decades of rock and roll classics. Among the artists on the astonishingly long list of talent the label fostered: U2, The B-52s, Grace Jones, Pulp, Keane, Amy Winehouse, Bob Marley, Tom Tom Club, PJ Harvey, The Feeling, Paul Weller, Kid Creole and the Coconuts, Sugababes, Roxy Music, Mika…and the list goes on.

Mariah Carey announced her end-of-year album title last week: Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel. But there’s nothing imperfect – or Glitter-y – about her warts-and-all role in the upcoming Sundance sensation, Precious (opening in November; previously titled Push).

ROYKSOPP FEAT. ROBYN: “The Girl and the Robot”Norwegian synth duo engage Swedish pop star in freaky robot love song (from the album Junior, out now) just in time for Terminator Salvation and Transformers 2!

JUST JACK: “Doctor Doctor” Dance M.C. is an awkward, straight U.K. version of Neil Patrick Harris in supermarket romance with hot blonde shopper! From new album All Night Cinema (out June 29 in the U.K.).

FREEMASONS FTRG. SOPHIE ELLIS-BEXTOR: “Heartbreak Make Me a Dancer”Dance/production duo and London diva channel Pet Shop Boys on this disco anthem from Freemasons' forthcoming Shakedown 2 (out June 29 in the U.K.).

GRACE JONES: "Slave to the Rhythm"And how about some old school S&M from Island Records’ resident dominatrix? Our retro clip of the week is this classic video.

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Check out our weekly guide to TV this week, and make sure you’re catching the big premieres, crucial episodes and the stuff you won’t admit you watch when no one’s looking. Last season of The Real Housewives of Dallas will forever be remembered for t… Read

A middle school in Achille, Oklahoma is closed following violent threats by parents on social media against Maddie, a 12-year-old transgender student who identifies as female and used the girls’ bathroom. Maddie had been using the staff bathroo… Read

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